6th Bristol candidates Fiola, Steinhof face off in heated debate

The race for the 6th Bristol Representative District seat in the special Sept. 10 election has been, until now, a congenial one between candidates Democrat Carole Fiola and Republican David Steinhof. But during Thursday night’s debate, a few sparks flew as Fiola was compelled to defend accusations from her opponent r...

The race for the 6th Bristol Representative District seat in the special Sept. 10 election has been, until now, a congenial one between candidates Democrat Carole Fiola and Republican David Steinhof. But during Thursday night’s debate, a few sparks flew as Fiola was compelled to defend accusations from her opponent regarding conflict-of-interest issues and questionable campaign contributions.

Steinhof questioned Fiola’s ability to vote on issues as state representative on economic development and job creation because her husband, Ken Fiola, the vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, brokers deals on behalf of the city. He alleged that money available to Fall River because of its status as a Gateway City flows through the local economic development office.

On Thursday, the morning of the debate held at Bristol Community College, the Massachusetts GOP announced a request to the state Ethics Commission to issue an advisory opinion on whether Fiola would have to recuse herself from “votes regarding economic development, job creation and business oversight for the city of Fall River for a potential conflict of interest because of her husband's involvement and financial interest — thus Carole Fiola’s interest — in a myriad of public projects in Fall River.”

“This is a serious question,” Steinhof said.

Fiola shot back that she was warned that, two weeks before the election, the GOP would start pulling out any attacks it could, and she denied her husband had would have any financial gain on votes she would cast while in office.

“I want to be clear my husband’s office doesn’t receive state funds. I’ve checked,” Fiola said "Let me tell you this is not an issue. I’m here to tell you I’m running for office, not my husband.”

This week, the two candidates have been sparring on radio advertisements, including Steinhof’s assertion, which he referenced during the debate, that on the same day Ken Fiola closed a deal with Mark Investment of Newton to purchase 42 acres adjoining the Fall River Commerce Park from the city of Fall River for $3.2 million to build a solar farm, Fiola’s pre-primary report issued to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance website indicated Mark Investment President Robert Korff, of Chestnut Hill, donated the $500 maximum to Fiola’s campaign, and the company’s vice president, Dean Holt of Tiverton, donated $250. Both were first-time donations by each individual to her campaign.

Fiola argued that of the more than 300 donors, the majority were small, local business owners and residents.

In addition, Fiola said she contacted the Ethics Commission on Thursday to ask for an opinion.

Another issue debated by the candidates was, if they had been in office at the time, whether they would have voted for the recent tax increases approved by the Legislature to fund transportation. The increases are a tax on technology, a 3 percent tax increase on gasoline and $1-per-pack increase for cigarettes.

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Fiola said she would not approve the technology tax. She called the legislation confusing and said it is currently being corrected in Boston.

But Fiola said she does support the gas and cigarette taxes.

“First of all, nobody wants taxes. But we all want services, we all want infrastructure, we all want education,” Fiola said. “We don’t want taxes, but that’s the way we pay for it.”

She added that, in her plan, no new taxes should be implemented without reforms in government.

From the very beginning of his campaign, Steinhof said he’s asserted the state should not be raising taxes on working families.

“It’s true. We have enough waste and fraud with the MBTA and EBT (program) to name a few,” Steinhof said. “There’s enough waste and fraud there to help supplement the DOT (Department of Transportation) transportation costs.”

On the region’s lack of jobs and economic development, the candidates were asked how they would leverage the area's assets to drive economic development.

Steinhof said he believed Fall River has some of the most amazing resources in the state of Massachusetts, with the second-deepest port in the state, a rail system, access to highways “and a work force ready to go back to work.”

“Seeing those resources, it’s hard for me to believe we are not bustling right now. The resources allow us to bring big businesses in,” Steinhof said. “And we have a School Committee and an education system about to change the way they educate students, to give them the flexibility to guide students toward these work force opportunities.”

Fiola agreed the area has great resources, including the commerce and technology parks. But she said the city needs the funds and must work together.

“We need to ensure the state agencies ... all these organizations have us on their radar at all times,” Fiola said.

She said that, as a Gateway City, Fall River must "get some type of a preference.”

“I’ll work together with our legislators, so that we fight to be sure that — when an Amazon or another company comes that has the jobs for our people — we immediately start working to be on their radar,” Fiola said.